One of the best cricketers produced by Zimbabwe, pacer Heath Streak lost his battle with cancer and passed away at the age of 49 on September 3, 2023. His wife Nadine Streak confirmed the same on Facebook.

A couple of weeks ago, Streak’s former colleague Henry Olonga announced on social media about Streak’s death. However, later both Streak and Olonga confirmed that the news was untrue and Olonga even offered an apology for his previous post.

Streak picked 216 Test and 239 ODI wickets in his Zimbabwe career which lasted from 1993-2005. After retirement, Streak moved to coaching roles and coached several international sides - including Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh - and quite a few Indian Premier League outfits like Kolkata Knight Riders and the now-defunct Rajkot franchise.

One of the biggest names of Zimbabwe cricket, Streak was handed an eight-year ban by the International Cricket Council in 2021 for breaching the anti-corruption code in 2018.

He is also the only cricketer from the country to complete the double of 100 Test wickets and 1000 Test runs and the only one from the country to score 2000 runs and claim 200 wickets in ODIs.

Streak’s former teammate John Rennie confirmed the sad news to Sportstar and said: “He passed away in the early hours of the morning at his farm at Matabeleland. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones. He died peacefully after a long fight with cancer.”

Streak’s wife Nadine Streak also confirmed the news on Facebook in a heartfelt post.

She wrote: “In the early hours of this morning, Sunday the 3rd of September 2023, the greatest love of my life and the father of my beautiful children, was carried to be with the Angels from his home where he wished to spend his last days surrounded by his family and closest loved ones. He was covered in love and peace and did not walk off the Park alone. Our souls are joined for eternity Streaky. Till I hold you again.”